A Sydney bishop is among multiple people allegedly stabbed during a church service in the city’s south-west on Monday night.

The attack occurred at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, with graphic video showing a man lunging at Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel with something in his hand during a mass that was being broadcast online.

NSW Ambulance said three other people were also stabbed.

NSW Police said a male was arrested at the scene and “he has been removed from the church and taken to an undisclosed location”.

They said those stabbed suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

However, a spokesperson for NSW Health said the bishop’s condition was critical but stable, and was being treated at Liverpool Hospital.

The hospital went into partial lockdown but people needing immediate care were able to access services.

The public were advised to avoid the area during the large scale police response which started just after 7pm. 

Vision from outside the church shows chaotic scenes with a large crowd of people.

The bishop was taken to Liverpool Hospital, and in a statement from NSW Health a spokesperson said 

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he has been briefed by the Police Commissioner and NSW Health about the situation.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe,” he said.

“We are a strong community in NSW and it’s important that we all stick together, particularly in the face of adversity.”

On Monday night, Mr Minns convened a meeting of government officials and leaders representing religious communities in Western Sydney.

Mr Minns said the group of 11 “endorsed and supported a unanimous condemnation of violence in any form”. 

“We’re calling on everyone to act with kindness and respect for each other,” he said in a statement.

The incident comes two days after a man killed six people in a stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.

Just before 1am on Tuesday, police said the operation had ended but two officers had been injured, and police cars damaged.

“A constable was hit with a metal object and sustained a twisted knee and a chipped tooth,” they said in a statement.

“Another constable sustained a broken jaw after he was hit with a brick and a fence paling.

“They were both taken to hospital for treatment.”

Religious leaders express shock

Faith New South Wales CEO Murray Norman described the stabbing of Bishop Emmanuel as “horrific” and deeply shocking.

“Tonight, Bishop Emmanuel was stabbed, it’s a hideous thing, I can’t believe this can happen in Australia during a mass, it’s just horrible,” he told the ABC.

“I haven’t heard about his condition, but the faith communities are desperately grieving and praying for the bishop, it’s just horrible that this could happen after everything that’s happened this week.”

Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin, from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry posted on X that he’s “horrified by the stabbing attack on a bishop at an Assyrian Church in Sydney”.

“I stand in complete solidarity with the beautiful Assyrian community and pray that the injured recover fully in body and soul.”

I. H. Kauser, the national president and Grand Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia, expressed “profound sadness and shock”.

“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia unequivocally condemns tonight’s attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in the strongest possible terms.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to all those injured in the attack and wish them a speedy and complete recovery.”

Police are urging eyewitnesses or anyone with information, or mobile phone vision to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.